The new 'Stay Local' restrictions have now come into place as opposed to 'Stay at Home'. 

A spokesperson for Cal Mac said on Thursday: "The rules, confirmed by the Scottish Government, are that anybody living in North Ayrshire can travel around their local authority area which includes Cumbrae and Arran.

"Nobody else can, unless it is for the reasons and exemptions already set out by Government."

However the Scottish Government are recommending against day trips to Cumbrae and Arran even for locals.

A Cal Mac spokesperson responded on Friday : "People within the local authority area are able to travel within that area but are discouraged from using public transport or carrying out unnecessary journeys."

Read Ayrshire Police Superintendent Faroque Hussain's Stay Local plea here

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “We have made progress both in suppressing the virus and in vaccination, and therefore the changes I previously indicated will go ahead on 2 April.

“The stay at home rule is being replaced by a requirement to stay local - while Covid levels remain high in some areas, and while a lot of people remain unvaccinated, we do not want the virus to spread from areas with relatively high prevalence to areas with low rates of infection. That’s why the current travel restrictions, which prevent non-essential travel outside your local authority area, are really important.

“It will be easier to relax more restrictions in the future if case numbers remain under control, so when things open up slightly this weekend please continue to stick to the rules- protect the NHS, and follow the FACTS advice when you are out and about to help save lives.”

The weather forecast for this weekend can be seen here